Almost £7.1 million to help get more young people into training and work over the coming years has been approved by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to continue the regional Youth Guarantee Trailblazer.
So far, during its pilot year, the Youth Guarantee has already engaged almost 400 young people across the West – with personalised support, including free bus travel, provided to young people who were not previously in education, employment, or training. In the region, 120 employers are now actively developing work-focused opportunities for young people. Since the programme launched in June, 70 young people have been supported through the Youth Guarantee into paid employment including apprenticeships or into education and training, with another 200 receiving support to help make that next step.
Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire councils have respectively focused, in this first year, on young people in rural areas, young people in south Bristol, and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Over the coming year, with North Somerset Council, local authorities are set to share around £2 million to deliver more services in their areas.
A new fund will also be established for the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector to access around £700,000 a year for up to three years, helping join up support for young people. This part of the project aims to enable local organisations to design and deliver new solutions, and use their trusted relationships to support a further 1,100 young people aged 18-21 through the Youth Guarantee programme.
In 2026/27, the Youth Guarantee trailblazer aims to support 730 young people across the West – including 360 via the new VCSE fund.
An event will take place on Monday 2 March for the VCSE sector to hear more about the chance to support this work through flexible, capacity-based grants and the opportunities for organisations to group together with collaborative, larger bids.
Providing more jobs and opportunities for local people is a key part of the ten-year Growth Strategy for the country’s fastest growing regional economy to create another 72,000 new jobs. It was also a clear commitment in the Child Poverty Action Plan.
The West of England Youth Guarantee is one of eight nationally funded by the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions as part of the Get Britain Working initiative, with additional funding for these projects through the combined authority’s Mayoral Priority Skills Fund.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“While our recent economic growth is the best in the country, social mobility in parts of the West is among the worst. This means that children born here are less likely than others to escape poverty or challenges faced growing up. That must change, and that’s why interventions like the Youth Guarantee are so important.
“Working with employers, councils, and, soon, the voluntary sector, we can give all of our young people the right support and guidance to get on in life. The West must ensure that everyone can see a pathway to work, to the careers they want, and the jobs that we need. Together, we can build a brighter future where everyone can contribute to, and share in, the our region’s success.”
Councillor Paul May, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said:
“This additional funding means we can continue to build on the outstanding work already underway through the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer. Our team has worked tirelessly to create a programme rooted in what young people tell us they need most: consistent, long term support from trusted adults. The early results from the pilot clearly show the power of relationship based coaching, together with practical support like transport, in transforming engagement and outcomes. This multi year investment will help us go further, ensuring more young people across Bath and North East Somerset have the stability, confidence and opportunities they need to thrive.”
Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said:
“We’ve seen great success through the South Bristol Youth Guarantee programme with young people receiving bespoke coaching, training and work tasters that have given them the confidence and skills to take their next steps.
“This investment is enabling us to build on the foundations we’ve laid in tackling youth unemployment in South Bristol, where we are working with young people, local employers and community organisations to break down barriers and improve access to real opportunities. We’re proud to be contributing to better youth outcomes in the region and working as part of a concerted regional effort to tackle youth unemployment.
“We were pleased to welcome Dame Diana Johnson MP, Minister for Employment, to the South Bristol Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair and the Park centre, our local base for the South Bristol Youth Guarantee programme, on 12 February during National Apprenticeships Week. This was a great opportunity for us to share how our approach and the partnerships we’ve nurtured with employers, training providers and community organisations are making a real difference in helping to get young people in Bristol into jobs and training.”
Councillor Catherine Gibbons, Deputy Leader of North Somerset Council and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Families and Lifelong Learning, said:
“The continuation of this scheme is an exciting opportunity for our local talent. By investing in young people and working hand-in-hand with employers, this funding will create meaningful opportunities, build skills, and help the next generation thrive in the workplace. We are helping to create real pathways into work and long-term opportunity.”
Councillor Ian Boulton, Co-Leader of South Gloucestershire Council and Cabinet Member for Education, Skills, Employment and Business, said:
“Our Youth Guarantee Trailblazer is already delivering exceptional results. By combining personal coaching, emotional wellbeing support, English and maths tuition, and real work experience, we are seeing young people grow in confidence, independence, and motivation. Employers report improved morale and highly positive placement experiences, while young people describe the support from our team as ‘amazing’. We are proud to be on track to support 100 NEET young people in South Gloucestershire and to be creating meaningful opportunities that are genuinely life-changing.”
One parent of a Youth Guarantee participant said:
“Thank you very much for arranging the placement for my son. He is absolutely loving it!
“The change in him since starting on the placement has been staggering. Having been out of an education or work setting for a while, he lost his confidence and didn’t understand what he had to offer a role but this has just set him alight! He is animated when he comes home and to see him so happy and confident is fantastic!
“The team on the ward have been fantastic – they’ve made him so welcome and really nurtured his interest in working at the hospital.”
